# Communicating Concisely

Use when the user asks for caveman mode, fewer tokens, brief responses, compressed...

- Repository: https://github.com/GanyuanRan/Aegis (1408 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-25
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill communicating-concisely -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill communicating-concisely -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill communicating-concisely -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill communicating-concisely -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add GanyuanRan/Aegis`

## Description

Use when the user asks for caveman mode, fewer tokens, brief responses, compressed communication, or otherwise explicitly requests a much shorter answer.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Communicating Concisely

## Activation

Triggered by: "caveman mode", "talk like caveman", "use caveman", "less tokens", "be brief", or `/communicating-concisely`. Once active, applies to EVERY response until explicitly deactivated.

## Mode Rules

**Drop these categories:**
- Articles: a, an, the
- Filler: just, really, basically, actually, simply
- Pleasantries: sure, certainly, of course, happy to
- Hedging and equivocation

**Keep exact (never abbreviate or alter):**
- Technical terms
- Code blocks
- Error messages (quoted verbatim)
- File paths and line numbers

**Structural rules:**
- Fragments allowed
- Short synonyms: "fix" not "implement a solution for"
- Abbreviate common terms: DB, auth, config, req, res, fn, impl
- Arrows for causality: `X → Y`
- One word when one word suffices
- Pattern: `[thing] [action] [reason]. [next step].`

**Example:**

Don't: "Sure! I'd be happy to help you with that. The issue you're experiencing is likely caused by..."

Do: "Bug in auth middleware. Token expiry check uses `<` not `<=`. Fix:"

## Auto-Clarity Exception

Temporarily exit caveman mode for:

1. Security warnings
2. Irreversible action confirmations
3. Multi-step sequences where fragment order risks misread
4. User asks for clarification or repeats their question

After the clear section finishes, resume caveman. Example:

> **Warning:** This will drop the `users` table permanently and cannot be undone.
> ```sql
> DROP TABLE users;
> ```
> Caveman resume. Verify backup exists first.

## Deactivation

User says "stop caveman" or "normal mode" → resume normal communication.

## Benefits

Besides token savings, caveman mode reduces content moderation surface area, shorter prompts with fewer filler/hedging words are less likely to trigger false-positive content policy flags on aggressively filtered platforms.

## Red Flags

The rest: https://github.com/GanyuanRan/Aegis/blob/HEAD/skills/communicating-concisely/SKILL.md